Article holder for attachment to a vehicle



April 15, 1957 w. N. DES FossEs 2,788,928

ARTICLE HOLDER FOR ATTACHMENT TO A VEHICLE Filed March Y26,

United States v2,733,928 AR'r'rCL 'Hoi-JoERTFoR Arr-Actur To A VEHICLE :Wilfrid N. Des Fesses, centralisatie, n. 1. Appiicaun'Marh 'isgissa'seriai B10344329 reclaim. (Ci. 22M-2.1)

'to'provide brackets or holders adapted 'to be removably vsecured to the top or 'side of automobiles to carry fishing rods -and'other rod-like objects. However, all of these prior art devices possess several disadvantages that make them-undesirable. 'I'he major disadvantages of the .prior art devices are their inability to securely grip the automobile with the result that they often come loose and cause the loss or destruction of the rods carried thereby, and the lack of-facilities for locking the rods to the automobile so that they can be stolen or tampered with if the automobile is left unattended.

It is accordingly one object of the present invention to provide a holder for fishing rods that can be detachably secured to an automobile and Which will not accidentally `come loose.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a holder for fishing rods having means for detachably securing it'to the drain gutter of an automobile in ksuch a manner that it cannot accidentally come loose.

vAnother object ofthe present invention is to provide a holder for fishing rods adapted to be removably attached to an automobile and having means Vto prevent the unauthorized removal of the ishing rods therefrom.

-Another object of-the present invention is to provide a -holder for fishing rods adapted to be removably attached to an automobile and having locking means to prevent the unauthorized removal of the fishing rods l therefrom.

Another Object of the present invention is to provide a holder for fishing rods adapted to be detachably secured to an automobile and having locking means for preventing the unauthorizedfremoval of the holder from the automobile or the shing rods therefrom.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a holder for shing'rods adapted to'be detachably secured tothe drain gutter of an automobile and adapted -tor-coperate with the automobile door to prevent the unauthorized removal of the holder from the Vvautomobile or'the fishing rods therefrom.

Other objects'of the invention will Ybe obvious and will inpart appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the'product possessing the'features, propertiesrand relation of 'components whichl are exempliied in the following detailed disclosure, and the scope ofV the application of which wil-l -be indicatedin the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects arent G rc 2,788,928 ce Patented fikp'r. T6, '11957 ..2 of the invention,"referencefshouldibe'hdito'tle filow ing detailediids'cri'ption I'tz'ikenfin connection y'vith'the Vaccompanyingdrawing'vi/herein:r K *A FigfZ isa frontelevatio'n corres'po diiig oi arrows;

line VIII-VIII and showing tli'e rodse'curing 'member in op'en position; and

fFig.' 9 is a perspective view 'of "th'e lok 'employed 'lin the embedimem or Fig. 6.

Virtually 'all 'closed model vautomobiles in use i'rtoiday are 'equipped'with a rigidroetalidringutteralogeach rside of the automobile roof and adjacentits doors.n The present invention comprise'sfaholdervfrsliing ro'ds,1or other'rod-like objects? provided vvith means to'removably-and securely 'attach itl toi'thef'd'r'ain gutterjof a'nauto- Vmobile,'and being so construte'dfn'd arrangedthat'vvien the holder is closed to-its -ro'djhliiingpositionthe attaching Ameans are enclosed 4and inaccessible. Locling meansare provided whereby`I the holder' can bellocledin closed position to effectively y'prevent 'Luiauthor'iz'ed frernoval of rodsrrom the'hol'der or the liolderifro'rnthe automobile. y A

n v'fiuy been-refereed that 'rcirlhttiers inepipratingthe present invention' are sed pairs. That' is to say, the

holders are 'mounted sniea'r vias is lpractical"to Vtheifro'nt and-'back of the automobil'ebody sothat thel'nfshingids 'carried thereby'will'b'egripped :onforadjacenttleir butt orvhandlean'd againinthevicnity of their`tip. JReferring is disclosed a-shing rod holder-:adapteditofbeflocked in its closed rod-"holding 'position'faid Ialso'locked onan automobile vhy Vhaving a portion :thereof Vvengaged by 'fthe automobile-door. The rodiliolder of Figs. lthrough 5 comprises `a rod supporting iand A'carfeiigagin:g I'meiliber 10 and a l'front rod secr-'ing *and locking V*meriflbe'-r Both vrod supporting and 4securing members `l,10 'and '12 are preferably formed of sheet mtlisuitablyicit and shaped, -but it`will be understooditht they, Y'as Well as other components ofthe holder, Vcan'be'cast to' shape or can be formed or molded'from `a plastic"having sulicient strength forV the intended purpose. The lowermost'end of rod supporting member'lis bent-'or curved, asfat'i14 to .provide an arcuatej clamping javvthat Vconforms to` the curvature of the inside of the automobile drain gutter 16. Rod supporting VVmember 10isbent^rearwardlyrlin termediateits Y'ends Vto f provide tvvo arcuate 4'roi 'engaging sockets 18 and 20. A rubber suction cup 22is`i`ixedito arstud molded into its basegtofgriplthe utomobi'lemp or vroof 24 to prevent the rodfholderefrom -vibratg'nd to kserve las supplementary attaching means. -A'lpair-of `upwardly turned curved 'fingers-19 'arida-'21,-prfr'bly as temporary rod supporting brackets to hold in place rods to be secured in the holder of the present invention until such time as front rod securing and locking member 12 is closed. Fingers 19 and 21 are shown as A being formedV from separate pieces of material that are secured to member 10, it will be understood, however, that these fingers can be formed integrally with member by striking them from said member and bending them into the desired position. Y

t A wedge-shaped Vmember 26, formed by bending sheet of metalback upon itself so that it has a triangular K, cross-section, isfsecured at one of its apices to rod supportingmemberY 10 adjacent `curved jaw 14 by means of tab 28. The lower surface of wedge-shaped member 26 slopesdownwardly and away from rod supporting member`10 to provide a cam surface 30 adapted to coopera-te withY a wedge-shaped jaw 32 to force said jaw against the outside of the automobile drain gutter in a manner to be described more in detail hereinafter. The face of jaw 32 adjacent curvedjaw 14 is concave, as shown at 34,

and the curvature Yof the concave portion corresponds to the curvature of the outside of the automobile drain gutter. A clamping plate 36 engages the lower surface of jaw 32 and is provided with a pair of upstanding screws 38 which pass through slots 40 in jaw 32 and elongate-d holes 42 -in wedge-shaped member 26. Nuts 44 threadedly engage screws 38 and bear against the upper surface of wedge-shaped member 26. It will be seen, therefore, that rod supporting member 10 can be securely attached t-o an automobile by locating curved jaw 14 inside of the Therefore, the ve-rtical movement imparted said plate by tightening nuts 44 to clamp jaws 14 and 32 `draws said innermost edge against the bottom of said gutter to apply yet another clamping force to .the gutter to prevent any vertical movement ofl the holder. It will also be seen that in the event nuts 44 are not -tightened to the point iwhere jaws 14 and 32 prevent all movement of member 10 the holder cannot fall olf, or be removed, from the automobile because clamping plate 36 will effectively prevent the necessary upward movement. To remove the holder from the automobile it is necessary to loosen nuts `44 a considerable distance so `that screws 38 can be slid forwardly in elongated holes 42 to thus withdraw plate 36 from beneath the gutter and so that wedge-shaped jaw 32 can be moved forwardly to free the gutter edge. The faces of jaws 14 and 32 are preferably covered with a thin sheet of rubber, cork or fabric 46 to prevent damage .to the finish of the gutter.

Each side of the rod supporting member 10 is provided adjacent its lower end Vwith a forwardly bent ear or tab 47. Tabs 47 together with supporting member 10 enclose the clamping mechanism, and particularly nuts 44, on three sides so that access may be hadrto said nuts to Iclamp the holder on fan automobile, or release it therefrom, only from the front. Notches or cut away portions 49 are provided inthe rear 4of the lower edges ofV tabs openings through which drain gutter yforwardly from its hinge connection at substantiallyright `angles to member 10 for a distance equal to the .thicknessof the two :rubber packing strips 50 and`52 which face the inner surfaces of the left side of said members and the two rubber packing strips 51 and 53 which face the surfaces of the right side of said members. Member i2 then extends downwardly generally parallel yto member l0 and is provided, intermediate its ends, with two arcuate rod engaging sockets 54 and 56 which are in alignment with and cooperate with sockets 18 and 2'?. The lower end of member l2 is bent rearwardly to form a ange 58 which tits under clamping plate 36 andwhich has a depending lip 60 formed along its inner edge. Flange S3 forms such an angle with member 12 that when said member is in its closed position said ange is substantially parallel tov and in contact with, nor closely adjacent to, clamping plate 36.- Furthermore, the angleY lbetween flange 53 and member 12 is such that said ange and said member must bend or flex .slightly to permit said iiange to pass over the front edge of clamping plate 36 as member l2 is closed or opened. As a result `of this, lflange 5S and lclamping plate 36 cooperate to function as a spring latch to releasably maintain ,the holder in its closed rod holding position. lt will also .be noted that when member4 i2 is in its closed position it completes the enclosure of the clamping means so `that it is impossible to loosen nuts 44 `to remove the holder from an automobile while it is closed.

lange SS is of such a length that when securing and locking member i2 is in its closed position its inner end extends past drain gutter lo to a position closely adjacent to the automobile door frame `62 and depending lip 60 extends ydownwardly closely adjacent said door frame. It will, therefore, be seen that when door 64 is closed the rubber sealing gasket 66, carried by the rim of door 64, will press against lip 6G to thereby hold securing and locking member l2 closed. lt will also be apparent that locking door 64 will also lock the holding member in its closed position and thereby prevent the unauthorized rcmoval of lishing rods contained in sockets 13, 54 and Ztl, 56, or the removal of the holder from `the automobile.

The above described `rod holder operates in the following manner. Front rod securing and locking member 12 is opened and nuts 44 are loosened a sufficient amount to permit clamping plate 36 and jaw 32 to be drawn forward. law 14 is then placed inside gutter la? andV the holder is located longitudinally of lthe automobile in the desired position but within the longitudinal connes of one of the automobile doors. Nuts 44 are tightened to bring jaws 14 and 32 and clamping plate .36 into loose engagernent with gutter i6. Suction cup 2.2 is pressed against roof 24 to cause it to grip said roof and Ithe tightening of nuts 44 is completed to ydraw jaws 14 and 32 and clamping plate 36 firmly against the gutter. The above procedure is repeated to mount the second lrod holder lin its desired position spaced from the first holder but also within the longitudinal confines of one of the doors. Rods 63 and '70 are then positioned in sockets 1S and 2i) and are supported therein by lingers i9 and 2l until loci;- ing members 12 are closed .to confine the rods. lt should -be noted that rubber packing Sil, 51, 52 and 53 is of sutilcient thickness and resilience to firmly grip different crosssectional areas within reasonable limits as, for example the diierence in cross-.section between the tip of a tiching rod and its butt. After the rods 63 and/'0r 7u are in place and locking members l2 closed the automobile doors are closed to lock the holder closed.

The above-described embodiment of the invention is best adapted for use with automobiles of the so called four door sedan model having a front and rear door ou each side. When used with automobiles of this type one holder'will normally be positioned to cooperate with a front door, and the second will be positioned to cooperate with the rear door on the same side, thus making it possible to'space the holders as far apart as necessary to Y best hold theV fishing rods to be carried. it will be seen that when the above-described holder is used ony a so called two door sedan, having one door only on each side,

:132 and ela'mpingptate 136.

wardly into aV loop of triangular ciosssectinh it may Ynot 'be possible te space the. :beiderseits ar apart as 4might be desired 'inasmuch both 'holders would have to be located within :the longitudinal eeaanes vof a eingieda'ar.Y The :modieatiea -diaeiaaed -in Fig. 6 is intended for use when it is 'nbt convenientor'desin able te have the vnemer eeeperate with the antenwbiie vdoor to lock it in itsclo'sed positin. A l

Rodlsupporting and cr 'engagingmemberllf 6 ia similar 'te-red 'supporting member :'10 fof Figa t -eiteept 'that its upper .end isv bent overit'oform lock 'keeperxflll instead of being formed into ahinge fitfiember l110 is provided with two rod ngagix'rgisockets 1?8 fnd 120, upwardly turnedjcurvedliingers '119 and flgrgarcuate clamping -jawfria Vsneden esp '122. '-wedg--shapedfmem- "ber t126, and forwardly beritearsor tabsi147, identical to the corresponding Velements 'on member 'lil 'and which function in the same manner. 'Clamping-plate lii'is similar to plate 36 exceptthatit extends 'forwrdalgieater distance and Yis rolledover aloiigits frward'f'ed'g'e at 137 to vcooperate, with at corresponding rollcd'edgefalong the bottom of front rod'secuigad'lokin'g'meibr'ln 'andpin 113 te hinge 'said mmber-nzet'neretp. Clamp- 'ing plate 136 carries'sciew's T38 IWhichllpass through slots in wedge-shaped 4jaw "132 'and "elongated holes I'in wedge- 'shaped member 126; Nutsl44threadedlyiengage 'screws 138 and Aupon being 'tightened -draw'fprate -\136 iupvgardly to 'securely' clamp drainE gutter 1'1'6 betweemjaws ilia'nd As desenbed above vsecuring andfleekiag 1niemeer e112 118 and 120 and rubber packing rearwardly extending tab lsjof sue'ientten'g'thto `the space between the members: 110 andI'IZwheie y The barrel 172 of lock 159 extendsthr'o'nigh*afsufble opening in the'fa'ce'of member 11'2. "Aiapff isf'p'ivotally secured to barrel 172 byme'a'nsofpin L175ar`fdfis barrel.

-and carl engaging 'member V2,1() by "bending "tai lengthV vvof Vsaid member 21!) adjacent arcuate larirpiigjawl forduring thev legs 229 and 2 30 bymeansofweldingfbiingjslut it is farmed iategrauywith'aad framiddsppdrttng K Since certain changes may be made in the'abov' pod- U uct without departing from 'the Tscop efoffthe'invention herein involved, it isv intended teh'at'll 'ttfcoit'aiiied inttieabove description'orshown in the cdonpnying drawing shall 'bei interpreted 'as Yilliistitiv'e nd'ntfiii 'a limiting sense.

What is clain'iedis:l

l. An article-'holder for'attachmentf'to5`a-fvhicleliv- ,member adapted to clamp a portion of said drain gutter 6 therebetween, actuating means "for moving-said jaws `toegether to secure said member to said gutter, a 'second member carried by Vsaid 'supporting Vmember and selec- 'tively 'movable with respect thereto from a closed position covering said ractuating means to an open-position Vuncovering said actuaating means, and locking means carried by one of said members for releasably holding said second-memberin said closedfposition.

An-article vholder Afor 4attachment to Ya vehicle rhaving a d rain gutter comprising an larticle Asupporting member, -a pair of clampingajaws carried by-saidfsupporting member adapted to clamp a Yportion ofsaid drainfgutter therebetween, actuating rmeans "for moving said :jaws togetherto secure l said member to said gutter, zt-second member carried by said supporting 'memberaandpselectively lnim'able with Arespect thereto from a closed positionadjacent said supporting 'member covering -said 'actuatingmeans and cooperating withsaid supporting-'member Ytohold anjarticle Itherebetween to an open -po'sition uncoveringsaid lactuatingfmeans and releasin'gisaid article, Vand locking means carried by one of said membersef'or releasably holding said second member in saidclosed position.

3. article holder for attachment to a vehicle lhaving a drain gutter comprising an article supportingmemvber, a pairl of clamping jaws carried by saidgsupporting memberadapted'to clamp aportion of said drain ygutter therebetween, actuating lmeans including cam means -for fmoving said jaws'together to secure-said-memberfto 'said egutterLa second member carried-by saidsupporting memberrand selectively movable with-respect thereto lfroma closedrposition Vc overingisaid actuating means to an open position uncovering said actuating means, and Vlking meanscarried by one of rsaid members for `rele'asably holding said `second memberin 'said-closed-position.

4. Anuarticleho'lderfor attachment-to avehic'le hav- A'ing/a drain gutter Ycomprisingan-y article supporting-member, 'a 'camlon'saidrnemben a fixed clamping jawon said member and adjacent said cam, afmovable; clampingfjaw carried by said member in contact with saidcam and movable thereby toward said fixed jaw when'it is forced thereagainst, actuating'means for f0rcingsaid=movable jaw against saidcain whereby said cam forces-said movvable jaw towards said xed jaw to clamp aportion of said `gutter therebetween, "a second member carried by said supporting member and selectively movable with respect thereto fromV a closed'position coveringfsaid'actuating means toan open position uncovering said actuating means and locking means carriedby one 'of saidmembers j forreleasably holding said second memberinsaidclosed Yposition.

, vv 5. A n article holder for attachment to a vehicle-hav- ,ing a draingutter comprising an article supporting membena pair of clamping jaws arried bysaidmember and adapted to clamp the side of said drain gutter, ian elemoving said jaws together to clamp said gutter there between 'and to move said element against the bottom fofjsaid `gutter'tothereby Vsecure, said memberto said oegutter, va second member carried by said supporting member and selectively movable with respect thereto lfrom a closed position covering said actuating means to an open'position uncovering said actuating means, `a nd locking means carried by one of saidmembers for freleasably holding said second member'in said closed position.

`6. 'An article'diolder-for attachmentto a vehiclehavl'ing a Adrain gutter comprising an Varticle supporting mem- ;'berga 'cam projecting fromone face of'fsa-id member, a xed-clamping jaw on said rnemberandY adjacent -said trcamja wedge-shaped-"movable vclamping jaw contacting 'f'said'c'a'm and movable thereby towardsaid vfixed jaw when it is forced thereag'ainst, a-plate-contacting-said "novable clamping jaw'on its f`sideoppositesaid=cam and Aextending beyond said xed jaw, actuating means for ment extending beneathesaid jaws, actuating means for moving .said plate and said movable jaw towards said cam to force said movable jaw against s'aid cam Whereby said movable jaw is forced towards said iixed jaw to clamp the side of said drain gutter therebetween and said plate is brought into contact with the bottom of said gutter, a second member carried by said supporting member and selectively movable with respect thereto from an open position wherein said actuating means are uncovered to a closed position wherein said actuating means are enclosed between said supporting member andi-said second member, and locking means carried by :l

one of said members for releasably holding said second member in said closed position.

7. An article holder for attachment to a vehicle having a drain gutter comprising an'article supportingV member, a cam on said member, a fixed clamping jaw on said member and adjacent said cam, a movable clamping jaw carried by said member in contact withsaid cam Vand movable thereby toward said fixed jawV when it is @essere gutter therebetween, actuating means for moving said- 9. An article holder for attachment to a vehicle having a drain gutter and a door comprising an article supporting member, a pairV of clamping jaws carried by said member adapted to clamp a portion of said drain gutter therebetween, actuating means for moving said jaws together to secure said member to said gutter, a second member carried by said supporting member'and selectively movable with respect thereto from an open position wherein said actuating means are accessible to a closed position wherein it cooperates with said supporting member to enclose said actuating means and to hold an article therebetween, and locking means comprising Va depending lip on said second member positioned thereon to be engaged by said door when said door is closed for holding said second member in said closed position.

l0. An article holder for attachment to a vehicle having a drain gutter and a door comprising an article supporting member, a pair of clamping jaws carried by said member and adapted to clamp the side of Vsaid drain gutter, an element extending beneath said jaws, actuating means for moving said jaws together to clamp said gutter therebetween and to move said element against the bottom of said gutter to thereby secure said member to said gutter, a second member carried by said sup- Y porting member and selectively movable with respect thereto from an open position wherein said actuating means are accessible to a closed position wherein said actuating means are enclosed, and viocking means comprising a rearwardly extending angeon said second member underlying said element and a depending lip on said ange positioned thereon to be engaged by said door when said door is closed for holding said second member in said closed position.

' 11. An `article holder for attachment to a vehicle having a drain gutter and a door comprising -an article supporting member, a cam projectingfrom one face of said member, a fixed 4clamping jaw ladjacent said cam, a wedgeshaped movablecl-amping jawcontacting `said cam, a pia-te contacting said movable clamping jaw on its side opposite said cam `and extending beyond said fixed jaw, `actuating means for moi/'ling said plate ltowards said c-am whereby said movable jaw `is cammed towards said tixed jaw to clamp the side of said drain gutter therebetween and said plate is brought into contact with the bottom ot `said gutter, a secondmember pivot-ally mounted on said supporting member and movable fromv an open position wherein said actuating means are accessible to a closed position wherein it cooperates with said supporting member to enclose said actuating means and to hold an'article therebetween, and locking means comprising a earwardly extending liange on said second member underlying said plate, and a depending lip on said ange Vpositioned thereon to be engaged by said door when said door is closed for holding said second member Vin said closed position.A

l2. An article holder for attachment to a vehicle having a drain gutter comprising `an article supporting member, a pair of. clamping jaws carried by said member adapted to clamp a portion of said drain gutter therebetween, actuating means for moving said jaws together to secure `said `member to said gutter, a second member carried `by said support-ing member and selectively movable ywith respect thereto from a closed position covering said actuating means Vto lan open position uncovering said actuating means, and locking means comprising a keeper on one of said members and la movable keeper engaging bolt on the Iother ofl said members for locking said second member in said closed position.

13.A An larticle` holder for attachment to a vehicle having a drain gutter comprising an article supporting member, a pair of clamping jaws carried by said member adapted to cla-mp a portion of said drain gutter therebetween, actuating means for moving said jaws together to secure said member to said gutter, `a second member carried by said lsupporting member `and selectively movable with respect thereto from a closed position adj-acent said supporting member covering said actuating means and cooperating with said supporting member to hold an 'article therebetween to an openposition uncovering said actuating, means and releasing said article-and locking means `comprising a keeper on one of said members and a movable keeper engaging bolt on the other of said memlbers for releasably locking said second member in said closed position.

14. An article holder for lattachment to a vehicle having -a drain gutter comprising -an article supporting member, la pair of clamping jaws carried by said member and adapted to clamp the side of said drain gutter, an element extending beneath said jaws, actuating means for moving s-aid jaws together to clamp said gutter therebetween and to move ysaid element against the bottom of said gutter to thereby secure said member to said gutter, a second member pivotally mounted on said element `and selectively movable with respect -to said supporting member from a closed position adjacent said supporting member covering said `actuating means and `cooperating with said supporting member to hold an article Itherebetween to an open position uncovering said lactuating means `and releasing said article, and locking means comprising a keeper on one of said members and a movable keeper engaging bolt on the lother yof said members for releasably locking said second member lin said closed position.

l5. An 4.article holder for lattachment to a vehicle having a drain gutter comprising 'an article supporting member, a cam projecting from one -face of said member, a `fixed clamping jaw on said member adjacent said clam, a wedge-shaped movable clamping jaw contacting said cam and movable thereby toward said iixed jaw when it is forced thereagainst, a plate' contacting said movable :mesetas clamping jaw on its side opposite said cam and extending beyond said xed jaw, actuating means for moving said plate and said movable jaw towards said cam to force said movable jaw against said carn whereby said movable jaw is forced towards said xed jaw to clamp the side of said drain gutter therebetween and said plate is brought into contact with the bottom of said gutter, a second member pivotally mounted on said plate and selectively movable with respect to said supporting member from a closed position adjacent said supporting member 10 covering said actuating means `and cooperating with said supporting member to hold an article therebetween to an open position uncovering said actuating means and releasing said article, and locking means comprising a keeper on one of said members and movable keeper 15 engaging bolt on the other of said members for releasab y locking said second member in said closed position.

16. An article holder for attachment to a vehicle havying a drain gutter comprising lan article supporting member, a pair of clamping jaws carried by said supporting 2O member adapted to clamp` la portion of 4said drain gutter therebetween, actuating means 4for moving said jaws together to secure said member to sm'd gutter, and a second member carried by said supporting member and selectively -movable with respect thereto iand `said actuating means `from an open position remote from said actuating means to la closed position adjacent said `supporting member and said :actuating means wherein it renders said actu-ating means inoperable, 4and locking means `carried `by one of said members for releasably holding said second member in said closed position.

Retarences Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,248,170 Hansen July 8, 1941 2,461,897 Hopkins Feb. 15, 1949 2,575,458 Merrill Nov. 20, 1951 2,578,967 Jensen Dec. 11, 1951 2,603,394 Beck July 15, 1952 2,671,583 Shaw Mar. 9, 1954 2,682,982 Fisher July 6, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 490,642 Canada Feb. 17, 1953 

